It turns out that throwing as hard as you can may not be a safe or effective way to pitch

Major League Baseball pitchers have been an evolutionary marvel in recent seasons. They’re throwing the ball harder than ever. Pitches at 100 miles per hour, once an extraordinary feat that left smoke trails across the sport, are now routine.

But there’s a problem as the sport’s velocity obsession grows. Pitchers are getting hurt more than ever, with the latest research indicating that this trend is a primary culprit. And it turns...